Forging out-of-equilibrium supramolecular gels

Collapse authors list.
Bianco, S ORCID: 0000-0001-5305-8546, Hallam Stewart, F ORCID: 0009-0009-8761-2678, Panja, S, Zyar, A, Bowley, E, Bek, M ORCID: 0000-0001-6405-8541, Kádár, R ORCID: 0000-0002-6255-4952, Terry, A, Appio, R, Plivelic, TS ORCID: 0000-0003-0193-3251 et al (show 6 more authors) , Maguire, M ORCID: 0009-0004-5578-7231, Poptani, H ORCID: 0000-0002-0593-3235, Marcello, M ORCID: 0000-0002-2392-8640, Sonani, RR ORCID: 0000-0002-6212-2869, Egelman, EH ORCID: 0000-0003-4844-5212 and Adams, DJ ORCID: 0000-0002-3176-1350 (2024) Forging out-of-equilibrium supramolecular gels Nature Synthesis, 3 (12). pp. 1481-1489. ISSN 2731-0582, 2731-0582

Text Forging out-of-equilibrium supramolecular gels.pdf - Open Access published version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

The design of supramolecular hydrogels comprising aligned domains is important for the fabrication of biomimetic materials and applications in optoelectronics. One way to access such materials is by the self-assembly of small molecules into long fibres, which can be aligned using an external stimulus. Out-of-equilibrium supramolecular gels can also be designed, where pre-programmed changes of state can be induced by the addition of chemical fuels. Here we exploit these dynamic properties to form materials with aligned domains through a ‘forging’ approach: an external force is used to rearrange the underlying network from random to aligned fibres as the system undergoes a pre-programmed gel-to-sol-to-gel transition. We show that we can predictably organize the supramolecular fibres, leading to controllable formation of materials with aligned domains through a high degree of temporal control. (Figure presented.)

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Biomaterials, Self-assembly, Soft materials, Supramolecular polymers
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	09 Jul 2025 07:26
Last Modified:	28 Feb 2026 14:33
DOI:	10.1038/s44160-024-00623-4
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3193634
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.